Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 42, Number 125, Decatur, Adams County, 25 May 1944 — Page 1

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II No. 125.

IFTH ARMY COLUMNS JOIN FORCES TODAY

w Troops Jig On In Jh Guinea ||K Bridgehead On cw Guinea Widened 1 r< 111 jUm* l *' ''' , "'‘ l “ "" n>*’ ■ W**»« 11 '■ "" | |fl|K ,>n 'h.. ■■ ami one ’ '' * ”"‘ ' Ilf Sanni, It was an • ■ ■, ..- •.. i. i »a. be Z^^fl. ■ ■ lll.li-li in.-■|-:fi- tii-. *•’)> "now ad■■l...4 I tin- Japanese air Muffin bay.” -i,. . poki-Miian aiid ■fl ».- -Ilfferillg MiillllIn- Wakd** Sarinl K).-.; tlnonKl.it Tues■K. . ~|<| 1 onquest o: V. * Guinea area, it rapture of the Bi® which has a 5.0001 u.nilil give .Mac 0 the Philippines. ...nd i.'ione. American -Im -I •* "h enemy troops th* liannwad river, 30 uf Aila|>e. East of the V:.. nitpost waa at withdrew to BBH 1 "" "" a * I*'k‘'sioan ■MI- -1:. ! I UMlleße Were rei>j one village in Si-ntani area near Holiiflaii‘l vie- .-in patrols "are tin-l enemy dead," the .! Japanese Slid boll MB ■" iiiliin i*’<l enemy were |M' I', ik-.i toille by American M »ho destroyed a large Bfltmtnuiirimi dump. ■B ■'*'■'* Guinea natives have finding .lapanse bodies -- . . inland They Tfll'l"- em niy troops were n d fieipiently ahan -A. ||, (1,,.1, flight p,i Advance In Burma ■■■B**.' Asia Headquarters. Jfl''"»i"n May 2:, 11 1-1 ai of! New Japanese mi i||,. outskirts "of 1 411,1 •"'*• making "satis t* ‘-K” •<- ' in th,dr week old ’ !l, ‘ enemy's main MBBii'ttia stronghold, a com Mid today. inside Myitkylna. |^fli r ’*’d that a Japanese attin airdrome south of Igflandmi Allied positions five 'he north Were repulsed. By* W Stilwell's forces in the Mognnng val their fighting ad toward Kamalng. Hfl' be em-niy’s main strength ■fl’-nt Burma was believed (»n.- Chinese column aBEr ,llr * 4r ‘l flee miles along By To p, c . ». Column~TJ~ > - — ■>te Bulletins fly M *> 2s~(upi—announced today that jfl^‘* n •übmarinea have sunk r ‘ J *P*ne»e ships, includ<,Mr ®y«r, to maintain £>T •* er *B* of better than ■ vessel a day. gw‘ w ""” on M «y 25—(UP)— Bw"* 17 ln nounced today that Isl." 1 " 1 *' 0 " * na on an "'•ft-laden landing craft ■fl/' Hjrbor on Bunday deaBM’ Mver «l email vessels. »CZ.“’ omv ,0M 01 " ,e " M**««ATURE READING y * T thermometer §■) "’• 70 K ' - 74 WIATHIR w,th entered i^KZ. r2T* r * ‘®"‘oht and ip ‘ 1 , f

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Wakde Island Puts Philippines In Air Range —- w a. • wj Jn JT; ■ l •' 4 J V* •nB flfl- a - First wave of U. 8. Infantrymen leaves Its Higgins' boats during the Invasion of Wakde island, off Dutch New Guinea, with the American flag proudly waving over the heads of the men as they race through the surf. The leapfrog Invasion, of Wakde gave the Yanks strategic bases for an aerial assault of New Guinea, the East Indies and the Philippines.

Scottish Rite Club Banquet Here June 1 Humorist To Speak At Banquet Here

I The tiHwiy organizI ed Scottish Kite I clubs in Decatur I and Geneva, will I give a banquet for I all 32nd degree I Scottish Rite memI iters at the (MasonI ic hall in thia city I on Thursday evenI Ing. June 1. (). N. I Smith of Berne, I county chairman I announced today I Samuel Geake.sec-

ScoCiSh Rite bodies In Fort Wayne, and several members front that city will be guests of the local elute. It will be an evening of g«»od felluwahlp. Mr. Smith said, with Mack Hauer, humorist and country editor of Leedburg. Ohio, as the principal speaker. (Mr. Smith will be the toastmaster and the woiiy*n of the Eastern Htar will serve the dinner at 6:30 o'clock. Noel Hemphill of Geneva and Glenn HUI of this city are presidents of their respective clubs and they joined In Mr Hmitb's invitation to the Scottish Rite members to attend the dinner and program. The two clubs have more than 130 mensiteiw. At the last meeting. 36 new membvna were inducted. Editor Sauer La a neWßtaper columnlot and humorist who has been (Turn To Pago >. Column 1) ■ - —o Nation's Casualty List Now 206,227 Latest Army, Navy Casualties Listed Washington. May 25.—(UP—Announced casualties among the American armed forces, not Including losses in the current Italian drive, total 206.227, It was revesled today. This total comprises 47,605 dead, 77,868 wounded. 44.522 missing, and 38.232 prisoners. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson told a press conference army casualties through May 6 prior to launching of the new flfih army push -totalled DU.113. of which 28.059 were killed. 66.779 wounded. 35,496 missing, and 11.779 prisoners He said 38.866 of the wound ed have returned to action. A navy casualty list released to day showed a total of 45,114. of which 19.648 were dead. 12.089 wounded. ».0!6 missing, and 4.453 prlaonem. The last overall compilation of casualties for both services, made two weeks ago. showed a total of >01,464. or 4.778 less than todays total. The May 11 army ffgureo. however, wre tor casualties through April ». «o that only nine dsya' army action was covered by the 1,771 Increase.

Stolen Automobile Smashed By Youths Fort Wayne. Ind.. May 25—(ITP) - Four young persons were slightly Injured this morning when their car smashed up as they were trying to escape police. Those in the car. which was reported stolen on May 20. were two boys. 17 and 16 years old, and two girls, 14 and 17. The automobile wrecked when it struck a eminent traction pole and overturned. An officer fired one shot at the auto, but it did no damage. — -o * Open Summer School Here Monday Morning 35 Are Reported Enrolled To Dote A preliminary enrollment of 15 for the summer high school course was announced today by W. Guy Brown, principal of the school. The school will open Monday morning at 7 o'clock and give pupils an opportunity of doing a complete sentester's course of study during the sunnier months. It is open to any high school pupils in this area who wish to hasten thwir graduation. Courses In advanced ma’hinatics. chemistry, physics. American literature, business English and sociology have been scheduled. Others will be offered If there Is a demand.

Mr. Brown and R. A. Adams will teach all of the classes, which are to be held six days a wek from 7 o'clock In the morning until noon of each day. If the pupils obtain a satisfactory afternoon job in a war plant, industry or store, they will he given an extra vocational credit. The course la self supporting and there is a small fee of |8 a simmer for each course, which pays all the expensesThia ie tne second year the school has been held, it is primarily for the aid of boys who will become 18 before the end of the fall semester and might otherwise be drafted before they could complete their high itchool education. However, other pupils have taken a<|vantage of this opportunity to hasten their entrance Into college or nurses training, to take more high school credits or brush up or make up regular courses. iMr. Brown said he would be in his office today. Friday and flaw day to discuss enrollment with any pupil who might be Interested. ——— 0 Moose To Initiate Class Here Sunday A class of *0 candidates will be initiated by Adams lodge 1111, Ixiyal Order of Moose. In ceremonies at the Moose home in thia city Sunday afternoon st S o'clock. The local drill team and degree staff will exemplify the Initiation rltea.

'Ralph eamFbrll, of Fort Wayne, regional director ot the Moose, will lie the speaker Members of neighboring lodges have been Invited to attend Sunday's verstuonios.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, May 25,1944.

OWI Agency Praised By House Committee Increased Fund Is Voted For Agency May II—(UP) — The house appropriations committer, which a year ago ernphaalied Its contempt for the office of war information by sharply curtailing its expenditures, today described It as an agency making a “valuable contribution” and voted it »20000.000 more than la*t year’s appropriation. A*, the same time, the committee, in recommending a 11.033,368 367 supply bill to cover expenses of 17 war agencies during the year starting July I, heaped praise mi the others, even upon Hie committee for congested production areas which It Is eliminating on the basis that Its job Is done. Where cuts were made below budget estimates — the decreases totaled 137 955.06 M— the committee in virtually all cases said it was acting because of decreased war need* In particular fields. The total allowed was 11,770.490.176 less than appropriated a year ago. again reflecting war needs The changed attitude toward OWI followed extensive hearing and Investigations that started last summer Into its entire operations. The committee did not give full credit for what it calls the more (Turn To Page S, Column 3)

Treasurer Reports On Tax Collections Moy Installment ■ Totals $263,028 Current taxes collected by Roy Price, county treasurer In the May installment amounted to 1263.028. It was revealed today. In the Mine period, 15,786.36 of delinquent taxes were collected. Mr. Price Mid. Outstanding after the May tax period were >14.392.62 In delin<quent taxes, which Includes personal property tax accumulations from previous years. More than half of the current tax bill waa liquidated in the May installment. Many taxpayers pay the spring and fall Inatallmenta In May, making collections of the tax bill heavier during the first half of the year. In Decatur, taxpayers paid ML*. 790 in current and $1,943.81 in delinquent tex. Delinquent tex In Decatur at the end ot the tex period totaled 16.804.40, County auditor Thurman 1. Drew has started on the job of dividing the tex melon among the taxing units and the atate trMsurer. The check will be ready next month. The county treasurer explained that much of the delinquent tax on personal property repreoented taxes due from men who are in the armed force*.

Heller Appointed To Budget Committee Robert H. Heller Is Named By Governor Indianapolis, May 25 — (Special To Daily Democrat) -<lov Henry F. Nchrlcker this afternoon announced the appointment of Robert H. Heller, of Decatur, as a member of the atate budget committee. iHeller, joint atate representative from Adams and Wells counles. was Democratic minority leader of the house in the DM3 legislature and in the special aeaaion of the aasemfirly held this spring. The Decatur legislator will succeed Matthew E. Welah, Vincennes, (who hue been commissioned as a lieutenant (Jg.) In the navy and .will report for active duty June 2. '.MemAters of the budget committee. which meeta at various times throughout the year, set up budgets) for the various state departments for submission to the legislature, which will meet in regular neuston neat January. In addition, Gov Hchricker has requested the committee to make a thorough study of all state institutions this summer and to submit their recommendations for necessary revisions to the state assembly. The budget committee, bi-parti-san in character, Is composed of two state senators and two atate representatives, one Democrat and (Turn To Fags (, Column 1) 11 - O' -

Report Robert Baker In Serious Condition ißobert Baker, a nxwnJM*. of th# Raker Plumbing and heating concern in this city, Is seriously ill at the Adorns county memorial hospital. He la suffering from a heart aliment and rheumatic condition. He is the son of Tlse Baker of the river road. o— ■— Mrs. Mary Fugate Dies This Morning Monroe Resident Is Taken By Death Mrs Marv ' Elizabeth Fugate, 78. widow of the late Peter Fit gate, died at her home In Monroe this morning at 12:20 o'clock of a heart attack. She had been in poor health for a number of years but was not considered Io tn- seriously ill. After retiring Wednesday night she suffyred the attack and di<d before a physician could be summoned. Mrs. Fugate was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H J. Weyrlck, and waa born October 17, iM66, in Randolph county. She was a member of the Christian Union Church of Zion. She Is survived by a son. Clyde Fugate, of Plane, Mich., and a daughter, Mrs. Earl Uindis, of Monroe. There are a brother. Frank Weyrlck. of Ridge vile, 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Burial will be In the PleaMnt Dale cemetery. Funeral services will be held at the home at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon. The body will be taken from the Ijobensteln funeral home In Monroe to the residence Friday morning and may be viewed after Friday noon.

Majority Os Local f Starts To Close On Monday And Tuesday The majority of Decatur business bouses are expected to be closed on both Monday and Tuesday of next week, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday, a Chamber of Commerce survey disclosed today. Food atores, restaurants and drink parlors, however, likely will be open as usual Monday, although definite plans had not been determined today. Stores which close at noon on Thursdays are all expected to be closed both Monday and Tuesday. All stores will be openall day Thursday»of next wek. Drug stores will close at noon Monday for the holiday. The Daily Democrat will publish an edition as usual Monday but no paper will be Issued on Memorial Day The assne schedule likely will be follow, ed for tbs July 4 holiday,, which also folk) on Tusedsy

Forces From Beachhead And Main Front Joined To Set Trap For Nazis

Thousands Os Allied Planes Pound Europe Warplanes Based In Britain And Italy Hit Hard At Enemy London, May 25 (UP)—American heavy bombers struck i.OOO strong from Britain at Frrtich and Belgian air and rail centers today and another big Italy-based force made the deepest penetration of France from the „outh to hammer Lyon and Toulon. The flying fortress and liberator fleets clamping an aerial pincers on vital German strongholds In France spearheaded Allied forces totaling perhaps 7,000 planes which rounded out an unbroken week of record assaults on th« Nazi antlinvasion defenses. The eighth air force sent 1.000 heavy bombers with a tighter escort nearly as strong against perhaps a dozen targets In northeastern France and Belgium, including airdromes and major rail yards. . Thousands of other Allied raid, era streaked out across the channel during the day in attacks on widespread targets after hundreds of British bombers had blasted by night al Berlin, the rail center of Aachen. Antwerp, and other boAes In France and Belgium. Although the targets of the Britain based fortresses and liberators were not immediately Identified, it appeared possible that they may have come near an gerlal junction over France with the 15th air force heavies plunging deep Into that country from the Mediterranean theater. The attack on Lyon. Rhone valley rail hub of all southeastern France, was the first by the 15th air force. The big bombers flew hundred, of miles to strike at the city and also hammer the naval base of Toulon 175 miles to the south. Other U. 8. heavy bombers plastered the Placensa air field It) miles southeast of Milan, the Montafaicone harbor, and other objectives in northern Italy. Rail yards were the main targets at Lyon and Toulon. In the latter area the Carnoules yards

(Turn To Paco I, Column T) ■ —.....0—- I. , —- Adm. Halsey Slated For Important Post Forrestal Refuses To Discuss Post Washington. Muy 25 (UP)— Adm. Wllllain F Halsey, Jr., one of the most daring tacticians In the U. 8. navy, is slated for a new aazlgnment so Important that Its disclosure at this time would provide the Japanese with vital war Information. This was indicated today by secretary of the navy James V. Forrestal's unwillingness to dl»cuas Halsey's new assignment and hl» statement that, "whatever I Mid could lie used constructively by the Japs” Meanwhile, Forrestal diaclosed the first of an expected series of changes In the navy high command. Vice Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch, who served as Halsey's air commander. will replace Vice Admiral John 8. McCain as deputy chief of naval operations for air. This is an Important post because it provides the naval air arm with representation on the navy'a top command. McCain's new assignment has not y«t been decided, but he la known to bo Mger to roturn to sea duty. He too I* regarded as a daring, brilliant fighting man. Halsey, the rough and fumhla LXttra To PM« «» Ooitmw >1

Only Minor Action On Russian Front Soviet Guard Units Repulse Nazi Attacks 'Moscow, May 25 (UP) Etavlet guard unite repule.-d a aeries of German attacks on the Hoviet bridgehead northwest of Tiraspol on the west bank of the lower Dnestr river yesterday, killing 400 Ge rm a tie and knocking out a quantity of war material, including 20 tanks There were no major changes) on any sector of the front, however, A communique said. Russian forces turned back four Nazi attacks against (he Dnestr bridgehead and, in addition to the 400 German*) killed and 20 tanks knocked out. dewtroyed or disabled four self-propelled guns, three aitnored cars, 40 motor vehicles, and 15 carts. Twentyseven German tanks and self-propelled guns were knocked out. and nine German planes were shot down in actions Tuesday, the communique said. t'A Berlin broadcast of a German war bulletin said that there was "only slight fighting" on the Russian front. The broadcast said that German bomtoa set off explosions and started fires in an attacfc on the Ukrainian rail junction us BUep ecovka Tuesday night.) The Russian communique said that a German submarine was sunk Tuemla y*by Hoviet Black sea warships. oWillshire Pilot Is Missing In Action

Lt. Albert M. Wyer Missing Over France Second 'Lieutenant Albert M Wrye. 22. pilots on a P-61 .Mustang pursuit plane, formerly of Willshire Ohio, and welUkinswn locally, has been reported mining in action while flying with a fighter escort on a bombing infestoii over France on May 15, according to a telegram his wife received from the war department this morning He Is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James W Wrye of Willshire. Hr enlisted In the army air corps on January 12, 194 C, and won hla silver wings and commission as a fighter pilot at Seymour. Ind . In April 1943. He received his com bat training at Fort Myers. Fla., where he was married to Miss Virginia Benner of Toledo, Ohio, on July 19. 1943. and was then trans ferred to Parker, Arts., for Intensive training in mountain flying His wife remained with him until he was sent overseas in March of this year, and is now making her home with her parents in Toledo. During his 10 weeks as combat flyer with the Bth air force in England It Is believed that he had participated in at least 12 bombing missions over Europe. The parents received their lasi letter from the young flyer on May 12. After hla graduation from the Willshire high school, he played with "Speck" H*Mible'a band until be entered the air force. He has one brother, Ivan, stationed at Treasure Island. Han Franclaco, Calif., with the U. 8. navy. 1 o— Bond Sales Are Far Under Month Quota War bond sales up to last Saturday In the county amounted to 338.898 36 Earl Caston, vice-chairman of the tend staff announced today The May quote Is 3181.000 leaving the goal $64,202 short. About 640,* 000 of this amount can be made up with payroll deduction purcbaaea. leaving the amount to be sold If the quota la met at 525.000, Rales last week were only |JO,981, g new low in total tor any particular week in the year, Mr. Castos Mid.

Buy War Savinas Bonds And Stamps

Price Four Cents

Junction Paves Way For Drive On Rome; Climaxes Brilliant Offensive By Allies Allied Headquarters. Naples, May 25. (UP)- Fifth army columns from the Anzio beachhead and the main front to the southeast joined forces early today, a special communique announced, setting a trap for 17 outrtunked enemy divislona and paving the way for an assault on Rome. 1 Military observers iu Ixindon said the junction foreshadowed the early fall o( Rome, though they acknowledged that the Allied march on the capital may be delayed until an attempt can he made to annihilate the enemy divisions to the southeast.) The junction was effected by patrols from the two forces a few miles southeast of the bridgehead on the Anzio-Terracina coaatal highway, the communique said. "This bring'* to a climax a spectacular advance of the fifth army of more than 60 miles in only 14 days.” the communique added. (A CBB broadcast from the front said the junction was made by two American soldiers. LA. Francis Buckley of Philadelphia, from the main fifth army front, and Capt. Hen Zitnnemer of Honolulu, from the beachhead, five miles south of the Mussolini canal Lt.-Gen. Mark W Clark, commander of the fifth army, arrived on the spot almost immediately afterward, the broad cast said.) Only a few hours earlier, the official German DNB news agency acknowledged that the Axis forces had withdrawn last night from ths entire coastal sector between the two forces to a “shorter line” in the mountains northeast of the Appian way. The test of the special communique from Gen Bir Harold R L. G. Alexander's headquarters: "Patrols from the fifth army main front made contact with patrols from the fifth army allied bridgehead in th<- early morning of May 25. "This brings to a climax a spectacular advance of the fifth army of more than 60 miles in only 14 days. "Th*- dramatic juncture of these patrols occurred a few miles southeast of the bridgehead on the coastal highway between Terracina and Anzio. "The fifth army have established land communication with the bridgehead for the first time since the landing was made on Jan. 22. “Troops from the main front,

(Turn To Page 1. Column •) Power Workers In St. Louis Strike Walkout Os Workers Threatens Industry. «t. Ixrato. Mo. May IS—(CPI— Operating omployes of tiwo llliont* power plant* of the Union Electric company left their Jobe today, threatening flow of electric power over a wide Industrial iced area. The walkout by 220 worker* at the Venice plant and 100 at ths Big Cahokia plant came promply at noon and carried out *ettieme»t-do-ma nd Ing ultimatunm of the Iter nation* I union of operating engineer*, local 14k (A FL) spreading yesterday's unauthorised strike of 100 Venice maintenance men to the operator*. Earlier today. 200 Cahokia maintenance men and 40 trotfbleshootem at a Motion of the St. Louis county gas company went on strike in sympathy with the Venice worker*, who protested transfer of a Cahokia fortenan to Venice in place of an Injured foreman. Company official* eaid the walkout at operators at the poorer plants would cause a gradual power reduction to home*, war plants, military camps and electric transportation system* serving the teem Ing Ht Louis area. It was understood some war Plant* already had been instructed lg redact puwer loads.